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AN INQUIRY was launched after a safety leaflet sent out by Bolton's most senior firefighter was signed "Homer Simpson".

The literature should have carried the named of Vinny Simpson, the fire service's borough commander.

It was also littered with inaccurate statistics which had been altered by the prankster responsible for the false signature.

The leaflet was delivered to 60 homes in Farnworth last summer before the mistakes were spotted.

Details of a subsequent investigation, carried out by a senior fire officer, have only just emerged. Farnworth-based Mr Simpson said: "An inquiry into this matter has recently concluded and nobody has come forward to claim responsibility.

"This was clearly the childish and unacceptable act of a lone individual which has outraged the firefighters at Farnworth Fire Station.

"More importantly, if this had not been discovered local people could have missed the opportunity to receive free lifesaving equipment and fire safety advice."

It is the second time that an inquiry has been launched into a prank involving the Farnworth station.

Last year firefighter Tony Jackson was sacked after he and four colleagues bricked up another firefighter's locker.

Watch Commander Nick Pyne was demoted and Andrew Duffy, John Grindrod and Crew Commander Andrew Stephenson, were found to have been unco-operative with officers investigating the incident which happened in June last year.

All the officers involved were transferred to other stations.

9:12am Wednesday 26th March 2008

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